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Day of Mourning marked by largest ceremony ever in Fort McMurray

(PHOTO: Wreaths and flowers laid at the memorial marking the National Day of Mourning in J. Howard Pew Memorial Family  Park, April 28, 2016. Sarah Anderson. REPORTER. Copyright Rogers Media)

Organizers said the ceremony marking the national Day of Mourning that took place Thursday morning in Howard Pew Park was the largest yet seen in Fort McMurray as more than 50 people gathered to mourn the loss of those who have died from an an occupational illness or injury or who were killed on the job. A second ceremony was planned for 8 p.m. in the same location on Thursday.

Flags are flying at half-mast on all RMWB buildings across the region to mark the day, the 32nd annual National Day of Mourning in Canada.

In Alberta last year, 125 people died from work-related injuries, illnesses or incidents. Across Canada the number has yet to be tallied for 2015 but in 2014, 919 people died from work-related causes.

In 2016 another six have died in Alberta, including two men who were killed in separate incidents on Wednesday.

In a Pembina Pipelines facility near Redwater, northeast of Edmonton, a contractor died Wednesday afternoon. Occupational Health and Safety told Global News the worker was wearing an air mask and using an air tank while doing maintenance on a tower when co-workers noticed he was in distress. They brought him down and he died at the scene.

Earlier in the day, a man was fatally injured when he was struck by a piece of equipment at the Nova Chemicals P-E-1 expansion project in Joffre.

Both men were mentioned in Thursday’s ceremony as those gathered remembered loved ones they had lost last year and in years previous.

Organizers, including James Reid of the Fort McMurray District Labour Council, said while the Day of Mourning is an important time for remembering the losses and honouring the families left behind it’s also a time to look at what is being done to improve safety and what more both employers and workers need to do to improve safety culture.

Reid emphasized a call to end the use of asbestos in Canada as more than 5,000 deaths have been attributed to illnesses from contact with the dangerous substance. As well there is a call for all workers to remember why they want to go home safe at the end of the day, whatever that reason might be for any individual.

North American Occupational Safety and Health week takes place May 1-7, 2016 and aims to inspire workers to take their safety into their own hands while calling on industry and government partners to ensure safe work environments are provided. The focus this year is “What’s Your Reason” and it asks everyone to think of why they want to return home safely.

Thursday’s ceremony featured a moment of silence, wreath and flower laying, speeches from Mayor Melissa Blake, the District Labour Council, the Alberta Construction Safety Association, the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Oil Sands Safety Association and Canadian Natural.

All of the speakers focused on the importance of a journey to zero deaths in all of Canada and the reminder that every one of the lives lost represented a person who was loved and is being grieved by family and friends.

“When we look at the continual evaluation of the statistics, year over year we don’t get to the zero number,” said Mayor Melissa Blake. She said having the permanent memorial marker in Howard Pew Park where families come to enjoy the park space could help to change that.

“If it makes one child look at it and say ‘mommy why?’ and it takes that to the family and the family starts putting more emphasis in terms of mom or dad going to work it’s got to have a positive effect into the future that we’ll never be able to put our finger on but, because it was here, it may have changed people’s thinking,” said Blake.

She said it also is important to have the marker year-round for people who have lost a loved one from an occupational illness, injury or death.

“It has more effect than just today, the national Day of Mourning,” she said.

The day is being marked across the country and across the province today, including at the Legislature.

“Today, on National Day of Mourning, we remember those we lost and think of those left behind. A single death touches so many lives, leaving families grieving for loved ones, and friends, co-workers and communities heartbroken,” said Labour Minister Christina Gray. “We also think of those who were injured or suffered a disability as a result of a workplace incident. These cases can permanently alter lives, and what makes them doubly tragic is that so many injuries are preventable.”

She said every worker has the right to a safe, fair workplace and to come home safely at the end of the day.

“I believe employers, workers, labour groups, industry organizations and government all have a responsibility to make that happen,” said Gray.

The Alberta government is working to improve health and safety on all job sites, she said, adding the government will continue to make sure employers are taking all necessary precautions to keep workers safe.